right,” Sister Bernarda agreed. “What you don’t know is that we were already inside the garage checking out the bike when we found the rattler. As it turns out, the bike was anold model with flat tires,
not
the one stolen from Louis. Anyway, Pax went berserk.”
Sister Agatha nodded. “He does that. And he knocked down the tools?”
Sister Bernarda gave her a sheepish smile. “Actually, no. My habit got caught on the bench when Pax tugged at the leash, and when I pulled free it all came tumbling down.”
“You certainly had an exciting time. Did you find anything besides the serpent and the wrong bike?”
She nodded. “Something interesting, though it wasn’t inside the garage. I spotted something dangling from the outside phone connection on the Sanchez house, so we went up to take a closer look. There was a wire attached there, with one of those double phone jacks at one end. I think that may have been where an outside phone or bug was attached, but only an expert would know for sure.”
“When Jane was on the phone talking to me, she was afraid she’d be overheard,” Sister Agatha said. “We’ll have to tell the sheriff what we’ve learned, including the part about those missing memo pads.” She filled Sister Bernarda in on what she didn’t already know.
They’d brought the cell phone, so while Sister Bernarda drove, Sister Agatha told Sheriff Green what she’d learned.
“The information about the memo pads is definitely interesting,” he said, “but it’s the kind of negative evidence that doesn’t really prove anything. What I’m going to do now is send an officer over there to check out their phone and pick up that extra connection.”
Sister Agatha’s and Sister Bernarda’s next stop was the pharmacy. While Sister Bernarda waited for their order to be filled, Sister Agatha went to talk to the clerk stocking the shelves. Silvia Pike had attended St. Charles, and Sister Agatharemembered her well. She’d been devout but had also been a relentless gossip. These days Silvia had become a good source, since her information always proved reliable.
When Sister Agatha greeted her, Silvia’s eyes grew bright and she smiled. “Sister Agatha, it’s so good to see you again! I loved reading that newspaper article in the
Chronicle
last year about how you helped the sheriff catch a killer. I bet you’ve got your hands full now, too, with everyone wondering if it’s safe to go to Mass with a robber and killer hanging around. Have you received any more threats?”
“We have police protection at the monastery now,” Sister Agatha said, not answering her directly. “Tell me, did you know the victim?”
“Jane? Sure, she used to come in here all the time,” she said, barely taking a breath. “Louis, too. I don’t recall ever seeing them apart.”
Except on Sunday, Sister Agatha added silently. “She didn’t trust him, or vice versa?” she probed gently.
“Ah, you must have heard the rumor about his neighbor. Well, don’t believe it. Jane would have known if something had been going on. Anyway, Louis isn’t the kind to stray. He allowed himself to be led around because he really did love Jane. That’s my take on it.”
“How do you think the rumor got started, then?” Sister Agatha asked.
“I’m not really sure, but you could ask Betty Malone. She’s one of Louis’s neighbors, and that woman doesn’t miss much. She’s the president of their neighborhood watch association for a reason.”
Sister Agatha made a mental note to pay Betty a visit. “How well do you know Louis, Silvia?”
“Just enough to say hello whenever he came in with Jane.But I’ve been friends with their daughter, Evelyn, for years. Evelyn hated Jane. She wasn’t even on speaking terms with her half the time. I’ve got to tell you,” she said, lowering her voice and leaning closer to Sister Agatha, “if Evelyn had discovered that her dad
was
having an affair, she would have jumped for
not
the one stolen from Louis. Anyway, Pax went berserk.”
Sister Agatha nodded. “He does that. And he knocked down the tools?”
Sister Bernarda gave her a sheepish smile. “Actually, no. My habit got caught on the bench when Pax tugged at the leash, and when I pulled free it all came tumbling down.”
“You certainly had an exciting time. Did you find anything besides the serpent and the wrong bike?”
She nodded. “Something interesting, though it wasn’t inside the garage. I spotted something dangling from the outside phone connection on the Sanchez house, so we went up to take a closer look. There was a wire attached there, with one of those double phone jacks at one end. I think that may have been where an outside phone or bug was attached, but only an expert would know for sure.”
“When Jane was on the phone talking to me, she was afraid she’d be overheard,” Sister Agatha said. “We’ll have to tell the sheriff what we’ve learned, including the part about those missing memo pads.” She filled Sister Bernarda in on what she didn’t already know.
They’d brought the cell phone, so while Sister Bernarda drove, Sister Agatha told Sheriff Green what she’d learned.
“The information about the memo pads is definitely interesting,” he said, “but it’s the kind of negative evidence that doesn’t really prove anything. What I’m going to do now is send an officer over there to check out their phone and pick up that extra connection.”
Sister Agatha’s and Sister Bernarda’s next stop was the pharmacy. While Sister Bernarda waited for their order to be filled, Sister Agatha went to talk to the clerk stocking the shelves. Silvia Pike had attended St. Charles, and Sister Agatharemembered her well. She’d been devout but had also been a relentless gossip. These days Silvia had become a good source, since her information always proved reliable.
When Sister Agatha greeted her, Silvia’s eyes grew bright and she smiled. “Sister Agatha, it’s so good to see you again! I loved reading that newspaper article in the
Chronicle
last year about how you helped the sheriff catch a killer. I bet you’ve got your hands full now, too, with everyone wondering if it’s safe to go to Mass with a robber and killer hanging around. Have you received any more threats?”
“We have police protection at the monastery now,” Sister Agatha said, not answering her directly. “Tell me, did you know the victim?”
“Jane? Sure, she used to come in here all the time,” she said, barely taking a breath. “Louis, too. I don’t recall ever seeing them apart.”
Except on Sunday, Sister Agatha added silently. “She didn’t trust him, or vice versa?” she probed gently.
“Ah, you must have heard the rumor about his neighbor. Well, don’t believe it. Jane would have known if something had been going on. Anyway, Louis isn’t the kind to stray. He allowed himself to be led around because he really did love Jane. That’s my take on it.”
“How do you think the rumor got started, then?” Sister Agatha asked.
“I’m not really sure, but you could ask Betty Malone. She’s one of Louis’s neighbors, and that woman doesn’t miss much. She’s the president of their neighborhood watch association for a reason.”
Sister Agatha made a mental note to pay Betty a visit. “How well do you know Louis, Silvia?”
“Just enough to say hello whenever he came in with Jane.But I’ve been friends with their daughter, Evelyn, for years. Evelyn hated Jane. She wasn’t even on speaking terms with her half the time. I’ve got to tell you,” she said, lowering her voice and leaning closer to Sister Agatha, “if Evelyn had discovered that her dad
was
having an affair, she would have jumped for
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